ADCP in Porto Grande-Mindelo Port's Ocean Current Measurement

1. Where is the Porto Grande-Mindelo Bay?

The Porto Grande in Mindelo is situated on the island of São Vicente in Cape Verde. This port is considered the biggest in the region and also one of the essential maritime facilities for locals and international trades.

Port Scale and Throughput

Scale: Large size and enjoys developed infrastructure. Most of the berths are elongated, with the potential of accommodating various vessels starting from huge cargo vessels through cruise ships to fishing vessels. The extended quay area will provide enough space that can effectively handle loading and unloading activities. Storage facilities are big and can handle various types of cargo, such as agricultural goods, fuel, and manufactured goods.

Throughput: It has a high annual throughput. The port is an important link in the exportation process of local produce such as fish and agricultural produce. Very high levels of imports including machinery, consumer durable and non-durable, and construction material move through this port. Cruise tourism is a significant sector of this port's activity, with numerous cruise liners coming into port, carrying a large number of tourists.

Routes and Business

Routes: The Porto Grande-Mindelo Port is well-connected to an extensive network of shipping routes. It has strong domestic links with other ports in Cape Verde and robust international links with many other ports from Europe, Africa, and the Americas. These shipping routes are vital for the import-export trade as well as transportation of tourists.

Business: The major activities carried out in the port are cargo handling services for general goods, fishing, and fuel. In addition to these activities, services are provided for warehousing, logistics support, and customs clearance. Fishing-related business: fish-processing plants and facilities for fishing vessels maintenance/docking. Passenger handling and shore excursions are undertakings for cruise-ship industries.

Port Management and Operation

The port is managed by an effective system. The operations of the port are managed by the port authority, which involves scheduling of ships, berth allocation, and cargo-handling operations. They deploy usage of modern technologies such as digital tracking system of ships and cargo for effective performance.

Safety and security are crucial. There are stringent safety regulations to protect ships, cargo, and personnel. Similarly, there is security at the port that works towards avoiding illegal activities like smuggling, apart from maintaining the integrity of goods forwarded from the port. Environment protection is a part of the port management to minimize the impact of the port activities on the ocean and to the surroundings ecology.

Port Facilities

Fishing-related facilities: In consideration of fishing activities, facilities found in the port include fish-unloading docks, cold storage in order to preserve the fish, and areas for the processing of fish. These, therefore, ensure good quality products right from catch to market.

Handling cargo facilities: The cranes together with other loading/unloading equipment handle general cargo while storage areas are used for storing various commodities such as foodstuffs, building materials, and other imports.

Cruise ship facilities: Cruise ships have their terminals, which in turn are fully equipped with passenger handling, baggage handling, and local tourist attractions. This will also include restaurants, shops, and other forms of transportation for tourists.

Channel and Direct Shipping

The channels of the port are in good condition in order to ensure access by boats without problems. It is also a facility providing direct shipping services to major ports in Cape Verde and other overseas destinations. Direct links enhance the competitiveness of the port and help in the easy flow of goods and passenger traffic.

2. Why should we measure the ocean currents in the Porto Grande (Mindelo) Port?

The importance of measuring the currents of the ocean reaches nearly all levels of relevance regarding the Porto Grande-Mindelo Port. For purposes of navigation, it is crucial to have this type of current information for safe and effective transportation. Currents can highly influence vessel speed and course. With so much volume of traffic passing by, from great cargo ships to cruise ships, this information enables captains to make precise adjustments. This contributes to collision avoidance and allows more efficient processes of docking and undocking.

The ocean current flows can affect the cargo-handling operations appreciably. Unstable or strong currents can make it more difficult to operate cranes and other handling equipment with accuracy. Measured, the port can plan the scheduling of cargo-handling operations and account for the state of currents so that delays for ships are lessened and the working is effective.

In the case of environmental monitoring, ocean currents take on a significant role. In cases of oil spills or other pollutants, this current data enables forecasting of the direction and speed at which contaminants would spread. The port would thus be able to undertake timely preventive and remedial measures to prevent damage to the marine environment. In this regard, ADCP current profiler provides a more advanced and convenient method for measuring ocean currents. It is, therefore, beneficial to the operations of Porto Grande-Mindelo Port.

3.How do ADCPs applying the principle of Doppler work?

Principle of Measurement

The guiding principle of ADCPs is that of the Doppler principle. A signal that the ADCP current profiler puts into the water is scattered by the particles and other contents of the water. Since the water particles are moving with the ocean current, with the Doppler effect, the frequency of the scattered signal received back by the ADCP will be different from the transmitted frequency. Measuring the frequency shift will allow calculating the velocity of the water particles and then that of the ocean current.

ADCP in Port Ocean Current Measurement: Shipborne ADCP

Shipborne ADCPs are installed on ships. During the movement of the ship within the area of Porto Grande-Mindelo, ADCP doppler continuously transmits and receives the acoustic signal, with the capability of measuring ocean currents at different depths along the path in which the ship covers. The information gathered after such measurement shall be used in analyzing present current conditions across the area in which the ship navigates, thus helping provide full information on sailing ships and their operations. For example, a cargo vessel can use the ADCP shipborne to modify its direction based on prevailing conditions.

Fixed ADCP

Fixed ADCPs are typically deployed at fixed points within the Porto Grande - Mindelo Port - such as on piers or buoys. Fixed ADCPs remain in the same location while making continuous measurements of currents in the surrounding ocean. They can provide long-term and stable current data for an adequate interpretation of the overall current pattern and temporal variations in the port region. For instance, a bottom-mounted ADCP meter sited close to a fish-unloading dock can provide information on currents there that will contribute to optimal fishing boats' docking.

4. What is required for high-quality measurements of currents at Porto Grande - Mindelo Port?

Equipment Requirements

Material Reliability: It is expected that the various materials for equipment are of very reliable quality. Those must be able to bear all the harsh maritime conditions, like corrosion caused by seawater, high humidity, and even impacts from floating bodies. At the port of Porto Grande-Mindelo, it faces the sea always and has a high volume of traffic. Therefore, the material reliability must be of high order so that the performance is long-lasting.

Small size, lightweight, and low power consumption: A small, lightweight ADCP flow meter will be very good for installation and operation, a big plus for shipborne ADCPs. Low power consumption allows the equipment to run for a long period without changing the batteries frequently or seeking high-power supplies. In fact, this is equally important in both fixed and ship-borne ADCPs. Given the diverse range of vessels in the port, ease of installation and operation becomes of essence.

Low Equipment Cost for Mass Measurement: To perform large-scale current measurement inside the port, the equipment cost must be relatively low. Based on this fact, multiple ADCPs are able to be set at various locations around the port. These vary from one location within the port to another, and so it is mainly required that equipment must be cost-effective to cover other different areas of the port as well.

Advantages for Using Titanium Alloy on ADCP Casing

Titanium alloy is a good material of choice for ADCP current profiler casing. First, it has very excellent corrosion resistance, which can effectively resist the corrosive effect of seawater. In the case of Porto Grande-Mindelo Port, this characteristic will be capable of saving long-term stability and reliability in the equipment. The strength-to-weight ratio is very high, and the prescribed sufficient strength can be provided while the weight is relatively lower, meeting requirements of small size and light weight to facilitate installing and operating ADCP current meter. Thirdly, it has good thermal stability to meet the demand of normal operations of equipment under different environmental temperatures in the area of Porto Grande Mindelo Port.

5. How to Choose the Right Equipment for Current Measurement?

According to the Use Purpose

Application - Shipborne ADCP: If the measurement is mainly done on ships, then the shipborne ADCP will be quite suitable. It can move with the ship and measure the currents in the different parts of the port while the ship cruises in. The motive for shipping ADCPs aboard vessels like cargo ships and cruise ships inside the Porto Grande (Mindelo) Port could be to send real-time current information for safe navigation.

Sitting-bottom ADCP: It is suitable for long-term fixed-point current monitoring at a specific place in the Porto Grande (Mindelo) Port. Typically, sitting-bottom ADCP doppler could be installed on the seabed and provide continuous current information around itself. For example, placing sitting-bottom ADCPs near the entrance of the port or at such critical docking areas may obtain stable current data over the long term.

ADCP of Buoy-type: Buoy-type ADCP fits for the application that requires real-time monitoring of currents in a certain area of a port. A buoy can float on the water surface, and the ADCP flow meter on it measures currents around itself. In areas like the middle of a port or near fishing areas, useful current information can be provided by buoy-type ADCPs.

Selection By Various Frequencies

Variations in frequencies of the ADCPs apply to different depths of water. For instance, ADCP current meter 600 kHz is suitable for water depths within 70 m; it can deliver more detailed current data in relatively shallow water areas. It would be helpful near the shore or in other shallower parts of this port in Porto Grande-port Mindelo. The 300 kHz ADCP flow meter is suitable for water depths of up to 110 m, while the 75 kHz ADCP current profiler is suitable for much deeper waters, going up to 1000 m. Thus, with the differences in frequencies, it is possible to measure currents at different depths within the Porto Grande (Mindelo) Port, according to actual depth conditions of the water.

There are several well - known ADCP flow meter brands such as Teledyne RDI, Nortek, and Sontek. However, for those looking for cost - effective options, the Chinese brand China Sonar PandaADCP is highly recommended. It is made of all - titanium alloy material and has an incredible cost-performance ratio. You can visit its website (https://china-sonar.com/) for more information.

Here is a table with some well known ADCP instrument brands and models.